Label imprinting apparatus



March 8, 1966 J. A. WEST ETAL LABEL IMPRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-s 3 Filed May 1963 IIIAJIIIMIII III March 1966 J. A. WEST ETAL LABEL IMPRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 28, 1963 INVENTORS Jam-m A. WEsT and V/{ LuAM E. EPPEE: w, w,$uermn a A TTOEA/EVS' United States Patent 3,238,869 LABEL IMPRINTING APPARATUS John A. West and William R. Eppes, Charlotte, N.C., assignors to Idento Equipment Company, a corporation of North Carolina Filed May 28, 1963, tier. No. 283,919 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-228) The present invention relates to imprinting apparatus and more particularly to an improved imprinting apparatus for imprinting suitable indicia on serially arranged labels connected together into .a Web of indeterminate length.

There are generally two types of such serially arranged labels to be printed, the first type being those labels which are interconnected into a web of indeterminate length and the second type being those labels having pressure sensitive or other types of adhesive on one side thereof and being removably mounted on a backing web which serves to connect the labels together in a spaced serial arrangement. The first type of interconnected labels come in a variety of sizes and configurations with some of the labels being circular or oval and having cutouts or scallops formed in opposite sides thereof to define indentations between successive labels.

In the economical printing of serially arranged labels, it is important to have an imprinting apparatus which is capable of imprinting the desired printed indicia or copy on any of the various sizes or types of such labels and to be able to easily and quickly control the imprinting apparatus in such a manner that the printed indicia or copy may be positioned on the labels at any desired location. Further, it is equally important to have an imprinting apparatus wherein the ink supplied to the printing means thereof is evenly distributed at all times so that even printing is provided on the labels and that the printed indicia or copy on the printed labels is not smeared while the ink is still wet.

In applicants experience, conventional label imprinting mechanisms for printing serially arranged labels are deficient in the above-mentioned important aspects. In this regard, considerable problems are encountered in the printing of the first type of labels by such conventional label imprinting mechanisms due to the difiiculty encountered in properly feeding such labels thereto and in properly registering the labels relative to the printing mechanisms to position the copy or printed indicia thereon at any desired location. In such conventional mechanisms, the scalloped edges of this first type of serially arranged labels interfere with the guiding of the labels to the imprinting mechanisms. As a consequence, this type of labels are not printed on such conventional imprinting mechanisms, but are printed either manually or by highly specialized equipment especially constructed to print this type of labels and capable of being used only with such labels. Therefore, the printing of this type of labels is quite expensive and bothersome since the same must usually be sent to a company specializing in the printing of such labels.

While the second type of labels or labels carried by a backing web offer little difficulty in the feeding thereof to conventional label imprinters as compared with the first type of labels, the problems of registration of the printed indicia or copy on the labels and for varying the position of such copy on the labels are common to both types of labels when being printed by conventional imprinters. In conventional imprinters, if a change of more than a fraction of an inch is desired in the position of the printed indicia or copy on a particular label, which is many times less than the range of feed of the feeding means of such conventional imprinters, it is necessary to change the position of the printing type or indicia 0n the surface of the printing cylinder. This practice results in ICC considerable lost time and the cost of printing the labels is therefore increased.

Another major problem encountered in the use of such conventional label imprinters is uneven or poor ink distribution. Due to this uneven distribution of ink, light places or places having limited ink thereon frequently result on the transfer roll which supplies ink to the printing cylinder which in turn results in uneven printing of the labels and therefore labels of second quality. In such cases, there is not only a waste of ink but also a waste of labels until the condition is detected by the operator and rectified.

Also, the labels being printed quite frequently adhere to the printing cylinder of conventional label imprinting mechanisms and smearing of the printed indicia or copy thereon frequently results. Sometimes, the labels adhere to the printing cylinder of such conventional mechanisms with such tenacity that the serially arranged labels wind around the cylinder and must be manually removed before normal operation of the mechanisms may be resumed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved label imprinting apparatus wherein all types of serially arranged labels may be printed thereby regardless of the size and shape of the labels.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a label imprinting apparatus of the character described wherein the position of the copy or printed indicia on the labels may be quickly and easily changed within a wide range equal to the range of feed of the means for intermittently feeding successive labels to the printing cylinder, which change is effected without the necessity of changing the position of the printing type or indicia on the printing cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved label imprinting apparatus wherein improved inking of the printing cylinder is provided including a greater ink capacity for longer operation without maintenance and more even distribution of the ink being transferred to the indicia of the printing cylinder for better quality printing of the labels.

A still more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved label imprinting apparatus of the character described wherein the label are effectively guided from the printing cylinder in such manner that adherence of the labels to the printing cylinder is prevented such that smearing of the printed indicia or copy on the labels and winding of the labels around the printing cylinder are likewise prevented.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a top plan of a label imprinter incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the imprinter shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the imprinter looking from the left in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the imprinter looking from the left in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1 with portions broken away;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 77 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of the structure shown in the medial portion of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a label imprinter 10 incorporating the features of the present invention and including a base 11 (FIGURE 2). Base 11 includes interconnected side walls 12 and 13 and front and rear end walls 14 and 15, respectively, and a plurality of legs 16 which are adapted to rest on any supporting surface such as a floor F or a table for supporting the label imprinter 10. A top member 17 is mounted on the side and end walls 1215 and extends for the full length of side walls 12, 13 and terminates at its rear end in a downwardly and rearwardly curving portion 17a which serves as a. guide for labels to be printed.

An upper frame 20 is mounted on base 11 and extends upwardly therefrom and includes first and second side members 21, 22 (FIGURES 2 and 3) mounted on top member 17 at their lower ends by any suitable means such as bolts 23 and 24, respectively. A top cover 25 (FIGURE 6) is pivotally mounted at its rearward end on a bar 26 (FIGURE 6) which in turn is mounted at its opposite ends on side members 21 and 22. A second bar 27 is mounted on side members 21, 22 at its opposite ends at the forward end of top cover 25 and top cover 25 has a portion 25a which snaps over second bar 27 to releasably maintain the cover in closed position. Top cover 25, however, is movable about first bar 26 to an open position (not shown) to provide access to the space between side members 21 and 22.

The printing mechanism of the label imprinter 10 is disposed in this space and includes a printing cylinder 30 (FIGURES 3 and 6) mounted on a shaft 31 for rotation therewith. Shaft 31 is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings (not shown) mounted on side members 21 and 22 of the upper frame 20. Printing cylinder 30 has suitable printing type or indicia 30a removably mounted on the periphery or outer surface thereof for rotation therewith and which cooperates with a back-up roll 32, of any suitable material such as rubber, mounted on a shaft 33 for rotation relative thereto below printing cylinder 30.

Shaft 33 is eccentrically mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings (not shown) which are in turn mounted on top member 17. An adjustment arm (not shown) is connected to shaft 33 for oscillating the same in its hearings to raise and lower back-up roll 32 relative to printing cylinder 30. A bolt 34 is connected at one end to the adjustment arm for shaft 33 and penetrates through an elongate opening 35 formed in side wall 12 to permit bolt 34 to move with the adjustment arm. A clamp nut or knob 36 is mounted on bolt 34 for releasably latching the same and the adjustment arm in adjusted position. A stop 37 is pivotally mounted on side wall 12 by a pivot pin 38 and aids in the positioning of bolt 34 and knob 36. Knob 36 also has a pointer 40 mounted thereon which cooperates with a calibrated member 41 mounted on side wall 12 for facilitating positioning of the back-up roll 32 relative to printing cylinder 30.

An ink transfer or form roll 42 (FIGURES 3 and 6) of suitable rubber-like material is mounted on a shaft 43 above printing cylinder 39 for rotation relative thereto and in position to have its outer surface engage the printing indicia 30a on the printing cylinder. Shaft 43 is eccentrically mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by adjustment knobs 43a which are mounted on side members 21, 22 of top frame 20 which are rotatable for vertical adjustment of transfer roll 42 relative to printing cylinder 30.

An inking roller 44 (FIGURE 6) is mounted on a shaft 45 for rotation relative thereto and normally has its outer surface resting on and in frictional contact with transfer roll 42. Shaft 45 is mounted at its opposite ends in elongate slots 46, 47 formed in side members 21 and 22, respectively, of the top frame 20. Slots 46 and 47 are angled downwardly and are open at their upper ends to permit removal or replacement of inking roller 44. It

4- is noted that inking roller 44 is preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application, Serial No. 264,574, filed March 12, 1963, and contains a supply of liquid ink for deposition on the outer surface of the ink transfer or form roller 42.

An ink spreading roll 50 (FIGURES 3 and 6), preferably of metal construction such as polished steel, is mounted on a shaft 51 for rotation therewith above transfer roll 42. Shaft 51 is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in bearings 52, 53 (FIGURES 2 and 7) which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in a pair of elongate openings, 54, 55 formed in side members 21, 22, respectively, of the top frame 20. It is noted that bearings 52, 53 have flanges thereon which receive the portions of side members 21, 22 defining openings 54, 55 therein to maintain the bearings in the openings and bearings 52, 53 are so constructed to prevent rotation thereof relative to side members 21 and 22.

A pair of generally L-shaped cam levers 56, 57 (FIG- URES 2 and 4) are pivotally mounted by pins or bolts 60, 61 on side members 21, 22 beneath bearings 52, 53, respectively, and are interconnected by a bar 62 extending therebetween. Bar 62 has a handle 62a at one end which is adapted to be manually grasped to move cam levers 56 and 57 between a first position, as shown in FIGURE 2, wherein bearings 52, 53 and, hence, ink spreading roll 50 are in a lower, operative position, in which ink spreading roll 50 rests on ink transfer roll 42 and is rotated by frictional engagement therewith, and a second position, as shown in FIGURE 4, wherein bearings 52, 53 are cammed upwardly and ink spreading roll 50 is moved out of engagement with ink transfer roll 42. The cam levers 56 and 57 will maintain bearings 52, 53 and hence ink spreading roll 50 in the second or inoperative position until released.

Shaft 51 is also slidably mounted in bearings 52, 53 for reciprocation longitudinally thereof to move ink spreading roll 50 longitudinally of ink transfer roll 42 in timed relation to the rotation thereof. To effect such reciprocation, a collar 63 (FIGURES l and 3) is fixedly mounted on one end of shaft 51 and has an annular groove 64 extending therearound. A follower 65 (FIGURE 3) is posoitioned in annular groove 64 and is mounted on one end of an actuating lever 66 (FIGURE 4). Actuating lever 66 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a bolt 67 which is received in a suitable boss 70 mounted on or formed integral with side member 22. A second follower 71 (FIGURE 5) is mounted on the other end of actuating lever 66 and is disposed in a cam groove 72a of a cylindrical cam 72 (FIGURES l and 5).

Cam 72 is mounted on a stub shaft 73 (FIGURE 5) for rotation therewith, which shaft is journaled in a hearing 74 mounted in a suitable opening through side member 22. A gear 75 (FIGURES 5 and 7) is drivingly mounted on the other end of stub shaft 73 and mates with a gear 76 mounted on a second stub shaft 77. Second stub shaft 77 is journaled for rotation in a bearing 80 also mounted on side member 22 and shaft 77 has a gear 81 drivingly mounted thereon which mates with a gear 82 mounted on a shaft 83 for rotation therewith. Shaft 83 is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 84, only one of which is shown, mounted on the side members 21 and 22, respectively. A second gear 85 is drivingly mounted on shaft 83 and mates with a drive gear 86 mounted on a shaft 87 which is journaled at opposite ends in bearings (not shown) mounted in suitable supports (also not shown) carried by top member 17. It is noted that gears 75, 76, 81, S2 and 85 are disposed in a recess in side member 22 and a cover plate 90 is mounted on side member 22 to cover this recess and shield these gears from the remainder of the apparatus.

Gear 86 mates with a gear 91 (FIGURE 7) which is part of a suitable gear box mechanism 92 (FIGURE 6) which is connected .to the output shaft (not shown) of a suitable electric motor 93 mounted on top member 17 of base 11. An intermediate gear 94 (FIGURE 7) meshes with gear 85 on shaft 83 and a gear 95 drivingly mounted on shaft 31 which mounts printing cylinder 30. A gear 96 is mounted on back-up roll 32 and meshes with gear 95 and a gear 97 is drivingly mounted on transfer roll 42 and meshes with gear 95 whereby back-up roll 32 and transfer roll 42 are rotated at such a speed that the same have the same surface speed as printing cylinder 30.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, gears 82 and 81 and gears 76 and 75 are of such relative size that cam 72 rotates once for 2.38 revolutions of transfer roll 42. It should be noted that this ratio between revolutions of cam 72 and transfer roll 42 may vary without departing from the scope of the present invention, but this ratio should be such that a fractional number, as opposed to a whole number, is achieved as a quotient when the number of revolutions per minute of either cam 72 or transfer roll 4-2, whichever is the smaller, is divided into the larger number of revolutions per minute of the other.

For example, it is preferred that the number of revolutions per minute of cam 72 always be less than the number of revolutions per minute of transfer roll 42 and, therefore, the above-mentioned fractional ratio would be determined by dividing the number of r.p.m.s of cam 72 into the number of r.p.m.s of transfer roll 42. This fractional ratio assures that transfer roll 4-2 will rotate a relatively large number of revolutions and ink spreading roll 50 will reciprocate a plurality of reciprocations before a point on ink spreading roll 50 will again register with a point on transfer roll 42. Therefore, improved working and more even distribution of the ink on transfer roll 42 is provided which also provides improved printing and obviates the aforementioned ink distribution problems encountered with conventional label imprinters.

The feed mechanism of imprinter 10 for feeding the labels to the printing mechanism will now be described and includes a main feeding means comprising cooperating upper and lower feed cams 100 and 101, respectively (FIGURE 6), which are mounted on shafts 83 and 87, respectively, for rotation therewith. Feed earns 100 and 101 have portions 100aand 101a of their periphery or outer surface protruding outwardly beyond the remainder thereof which cooperate with each other to intermittently feed the labels forwardly in timed relation with the rotation of printing cylinder 30. Lower feed cam 101 is alined with a suitable opening in top member 17 so that portion 101a thereon penetrates therethrough.

Feed cams 100 and 101 feed the labels between printing cylinder and back-up roll 32 at the same time that the printing type or indicia 30a on printing cylinder 30 is passing in contact with back-up roll 32, which is also disposed partially in a suitable opening in top member 17, so that the labels are moving at the same linear speed as the surface speed of printing cylinder 30 as the same are printed. Adjustment means broadly indicated at 102 (FIGURE 2) is provided for adjusting the positions of protruding portions 100a and 101a of feed cams 100 and 101 relative to each other for varying the amount the labels are advanced upon each revolution of feed cams 100 and 101. Adjustment means 102 effects rotation of feed cams 100, 101 relative to each other and then locks the feed cams in adjusted position so that the range of feed of the feed cams may be varied up to the circumference of the protruding portions 100a and 101a.

An auxiliary feed means (FIGURES 6 and 8) is also provided for the labels being printed for assuring proper positioning of each successive label for feeding to printing cylinder 30 by feed cams 100, 101 and for proper registration of the printing type or indicia 30a with the portions of the labels on which the printed copy is desired. The auxiliary feed means includes an eccentric cam 103 mounted on shaft 83 for rotation therewith and a cooperating follower strap 104 having a portion 104a surrounding eccentric cam 103 and an outwardly extending arm portion 104b which is pivotally connected at its outer end to an elongate bar 105 by a pin or bolt 106. Elongate bar 105 has a first elongate opening 107 therein and bar 105 is mounted at its forward end on shaft 83 which penetrates through first elongate opening 107. Elongate bar 105 has a second elongate opening 108 therein which extends longitudinally thereof for a major portion of the length of elongate bar 105 and is of a length exceeding the circumference of protruding portions a and 101a of feed cams 100, 101. Elongate bar 105 is mounted at its rearward end on a shaft which penetrates through second elongate opening 108, and which is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in bearings 1 11 mounted on top member 17. Therefore, bar 105 is mounted for horizontal reciprocating movements upon rotation of eccentric cam 103 with shaft 83.

A mounting block 112 (FIGURE 8) is slidably mounted on bar 105 for adjustment longitudinally thereof by a portion 112a penetrating through second elongate open ing 103 and has a locking bolt 113 threadably mounted in portion 11201 on the opposite side of bar 105 from the main portion of block 112 for releasably locking block 112 in adjusted position. An inverted U-shaped bracket 114 is mounted on mounting block 112 and depends therefrom. Two spaced-apart sets of feeding fingers 115 and 116 are pivotally mounted on the depending legs of bracket 114 and have the outer ends thereof extending downwardly into engagement with a back-up plate 117 mounted on top member 17 which is adapted to have the labels pass thereover between the same and the outer ends of the feeding ngers 115 and 116.

Feeding fingers 115 and 116 reciprocate with elongate bar 105 and are adapted to engage the rearmost edge of the type of labels which are carried by a backing web or suitable perforations provided for this purpose in the type of labels which are interconnected into web form to correctly position each successive label for feeding by feed cams 100 and 101 for correct registration of the labels relative to printing cylinder 30 to insure correct position of the copy or printed indicia on the labels. It is noted that mounting block 112 may be quickly and easily adjusted longitudinally of bar 105 within a wide range of adjustment equal to several inches, i.e., approximately 4 inches in the preferred embodiment or equal to the circumference of protruding portions 100a, 101a of feed cams 100, 101 which in turn is equal to the maximum distance between the leading edges of two successive labels which may be printed with a printing cylinder of a given size. This adjustment of block 112 quickly and easily changes the position of the copy or printed indicia on the labels without the necessity of changing the position of printing type 30a on printing cylinder 30.

Shaft 110 has a collar 120 (FIGURE 8) mounted thereon on one side of elongate bar 105 and a collar portion 121a of an arm 121 mounted thereon on the other side of bar 105. Arm 121 has a horizontal portion 1121b at its other end on the under surface of which is mounted an anti-back-up pad 122 of any suitable material having a high coefiicient of friction and is adapted to cooperate with the upper surface of top member 17 to resiliently clamp the web of connected labels therebetween. It is noted that the lower surface of pad 122 curves upwardly and rearwardly from its forward edge toward its rearward edge to permit the labels to pass freely therebeneath in their movement toward printing cylinder 30.

A spring finger 123 is mounted at its rearward end by suitable screws or rivets 124 on the upper surface of the horizontal portion 121!) of arm 121 and extends forwardly therefrom between the pairs of feed fingers 115 and 116 to a point rearwardly of the feed cams 100 and 101. Finger 123 bears against the upper surface of back-up plate 117 and acts as a hold-down member for the web of labels.

An elongate member 125 (FIGURES 6 and 8) is fixedly mounted on one end of shaft 110 and extends horizontally outwardly on opposite sides thereof. A spring 126 is mounted between the rearward end of member 125 and the bearing 111 adjacent thereto and serves to bias member 125 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 8, to bias shaft 110 in this direction and arm 121 downwardly and the pad 122 into engagement with the upper surface of top member 17. A suitable adjusting screw 127 is provided for varying the force exerted by spring 126 on member 125.

A generally L-shaped lever 130 is pivotally mounted at the juncture of its legs 130a and 13012 on the other or forward end of member 125 and is movable manually between a first position wherein the shorter leg 130a thereof is spaced rearwardly from the pivot point and anti-backup pad 122 presses against top member 17 or labels therebeneath, and a second position wherein the shorter leg 130a thereof extends downwardly from the pivot point and the other leg 1301; is disposed generally horizontal and member 125 and shaft 110 are rotated slightly in a clockwise direction to lift pad 122 and finger 123 out of engagement with top member 17 and back-up plate 117 or any labels therebeneath.

A pair of support arms 131 and 132 (FIGURES 1 and 8) are mounted on bearings 111 and extend rearwardly therefrom. Arms 131, 132 journal opposite ends of a shaft 133 (FIGURE 1) adapted to have a roll R of labels interconnected into a web or labels carried by a backing web thereon. Shaft 133 has a first or cylindrical brake member 134 (FIGURES 1 and 6) mounted thereon for rotation therewith and which comprises a hub member 134a and an outer sleeve 134b therearound of suitable rubber-like material or material having a high coefficient of friction.

A second brake member 135 (FIGURE 6) is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 136 on arm 132 adjacent first brake member 134 and has a first leg portion 135a extending rearwardly into underlying relation to first brake member 134. The upper surface of leg 135a has a generally semi-circular cutout or recess therein which defines a brake shoe 137 for cooperation with first brake member 134. It is noted that brake shoe 137 has a greater radius than first brake member 134 and pivot pin 136 is so positioned relative to first brake member 134 that the uppermost and rearmost corner or edge thereof engages first brake member 134 at a point preferably no higher than the horizontal plane in which the axis of first brake member 134 is disposed. Therefore, a very light braking force is applied to shaft 133 initially, which braking force increases very rapidly due to the self-energizing effect of brake shoe 137 on the outer sleeve 13411 of first brake member 134 upon attempted continued rotation of outer sleeve 134b. Also, this braking force is very quickly released from first brake member 134 upon the slightest tension in the web of labels.

In this regard, a spring 140 is connected at one end to leg 135a of second brake member 135 and at its other end to arm 132 for biasing brake shoe 137 into braking engagement with first brake member 134. The other leg 135b of second brake member 135 extends generally downwardly from leg 135a and is considerably longer than leg 135a. Leg 135b mounts one end of a bar 141, the other end of which is mounted on the lower end of an arm 142 which is pivotally mounted at 143 on the other arm 131. Bar 141 journals a roller 144 which is adapted to have the web W of labels pass therebehind and thereunder prior to being directed upwardly onto the upper surface of top member 17 and serves as a tension sensing device for sensing the tension in the web of labels.

The web of labels is guided to and from printing cylinder 30 by guiding means including a pair of spaced apart back guides 150, 151 (FIGURE 8) which are mounted on a pair of blocks 152, 153 which in turn are slidably mounted in a transverse groove 154 in top member 17 for lateral adjustment. Suitable locking screws 155, 156 are associated with blocks 152, 153, respectively, for releasably locking the blocks in adjusted position. Guides 150,

151 are generally C-shaped in cross-section and preferably extend from just forwardly of anti back-up pad 122 to just rearwardly of printing cylinder 30. These guides 150, 151 have both the lower and upper legs thereof flared downwardly and upwardly at the rearward ends thereof as indicated at 150a, 15012 and 151a, 1511;, respectively, and a groove 157 is formed in the upper surface of top member 17 and receives the downwardly flared end portions 15%, 15111 of the lower legs of guides 150 and 151. Therefore, all types of labels including those having scalloped edges or indentations in the edges thereof are smoothly guided to the printing cylinder for printing.

The guiding means for the web of labels also includes a pair of spaced apart front guides 160, 161 (FIGURE 3) which comprise generally rectangular blocks having the lower inner corners cut away to define guiding recesses 162, 163, respectively. Guides 160, 161 are mounted for sliding lateral adjustment on a bar 164 which is mounted at opposite ends in a pair of brackets 165, 166. Each of the brackets 165, 166 has a vertically elongate opening therein which permits bar 164 to move vertically relative thereto and relative to top member 17. A pair of compression springs 170, 171 are mounted in brackets 165, 166 over the ends of bar 164 and serve to bias bar 164 downwardly and hence to bias guides 160, 161 into engagement with the upper surface of top member 17. Thereby, guides 160, 161 are releasably held in adjusted position and serve to guide the printed labels from the printing cylinder 30 and to prevent the labels from sticking to the printing cylinder and smearing the printing thereon or winding up on the cylinder.

In operation, when imprinting apparatus 10 is to be used to imprint suitable indicia on labels, a roll of the web of labels is placed on shaft 133 and the web is threaded behind and beneath tension sensing bar 144 and then upwardly past the rearwardly and downwardly curved guide portion 17a of top member 17 and onto the upper surface of top member 17. The web is then threaded under the anti back-up pad 122 which has previously been raised to the upward position by movement of the leg 13012 of lever 130 upwardly to pivot the lever in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 6, to move the shorter leg 130a thereof into vertical alinement with the pivot pin. This rotates shaft 110 in a clockwise direction and moves the arm 121 in a similar direction to raise pad 122 out of engagement with top member 17. At the same time, hold-down finger 123 is moved upwardly out of engagement with the back-up plate 117 which also facilitates the threading of the web of labels therebeneath.

The web is also threaded into the back guides 150 and 151 and beneath auxiliary feeding fingers 115 and 116. The end of the web is then placed between feed cams and 101 and the anti back-up pad 122 is lowered into engagement with the web of labels.

Motor 93 is then actuated and the same drives feed cams 100 and 101 by means of the gears therebetween to intermittently feed successive labels to the printing cylinder 30 through cooperation of the projecting portions 100a and 101a on feed cams 100 and 101. Simultaneously therewith, eccentric 103 rotates with shaft 83 and reciprocates strap follower 104 to horizontally reciprocate elongate bar 105. Bar moves the auxiliary feed fingers and 116 therewith in its reciprocation and the fingers engage the rearward edge of or suitable perforations in successive labels for correctly positioning the successive labels for feeding to printing cylinder 30 by feed cams 100 and 101. It is noted that when the position of the printed copy or indicia on a label is desired to be changed, this change may be easily and quickly effected by loosening clamp screw 113 and sliding block 112 longitudinally of elongate bar 105 to the desired position and then tightening of the locking screw 113 to hold the block 112 in adjusted position. It is also noted that the amount of the web of labels fed by feed cams 100 and 101 upon each revolution thereof may be adjusted by adjusting means 102.

As the web of labels is fed forwardly by feed cams 100, 101 and/or feed fingers 115, 116, the same is unrolled from the roll R carried by shaft 133. Spring 140 normally holds brake shoe portion or leg 135a of second brake member 135 in engagement with first or cylindrical brake member 134 to prevent overrunning of the roll R and an excess amount of web being unwound therefrom. Upon even a slight tension in the web being unwound from the roll R, however, roller 144 moves upwardly which pivots second brake member 135 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 6 and moves brake shoe portion 135:: out of braking contact with cylindrical brake member 134. Therefore, the brake means does not offer any appreciable resistance to forward feeding of the labels as do conventional tension controlled brakes with which applicants are familiar.

Further, the shape of anti back-up pad 122 is such that the forward feeding of the web of labels has a tendency to cam the pad upwardly out of engagement therewith andtherefore, anti back-up pad 122 offers a minimal amount of resistance to such forward feeding of the labels.

However, upon a rearward force being applied to the web of labels tending to cause the same to backup or move rearwardly, antiback-up pad 122 is pulled downwardly into engagement with the web with an even greater force to prevent any such back-upof the-web of labels.

Printing cylinder is driven in timed relation to feed cams 100, 101 by the gears therebetween and moves the printing type or indicia 30a thereon into cooperating relation with back-up rolls 32, which is driven thereby, to lightly engage the labels being fed therebetween and to print suitable copy or indicia thereon. While printing cylinder 30 is rotating, ink transfer roll 32 is being driven at the same surface speed thereas by the gears therebetween. Transfer roll 42 rotates inking roller 44 through the frictional engagement therebetween and inking roller 44 deposits a film of liquid ink on the surface of transfer roll 42 for subsequent transfer to the printing type or indicia 30:: on printing cylinder 30.

Ink transfer roll 42 likewise rotates ink spreading roll 50 through the frictional contact therewith and ink spreading roll 50 is positively reciprocated longitudinally of ink transfer roll 42 in the aforementioned predetermined timed relation to the rotation of ink transfer roll 42. In this regard, cam '72 is rotated in the aforementioned fractional ratio to the rotation of ink transfer roll 42 by means of the gears between the same and motor 93 and as cam 72 rotates, follower 71 moves therewith and pivots the actuating arm 66 about its pivot 6'7 which imparts the positive longitudinal reciprocating movement to ink spreading roll 50 through follower 65 and collar 63 on shaft 51.

In the preferred embodiment, ink spreading roll 50 makes one complete reciprocation, i.e., out and back, for 2.38 revolutions of ink transfer roll 42. This insures that a large number of revolutions of ink transfer roll 42 and a plurality of reciprocations of ink spreading roll 50 are necessary for a point on ink spreading roll 59 to again register with a point on ink transfer roll 42. Therefore, better distribution of the ink deposited on ink transfer roll 42 from inking roller 44 is provided and the formation of light spots or areas on the ink spreading roll 42 are prevented.

Also, ink spreading roll 50 is relatively heavy and is normally supported by ink transfer roll 42. During those periods when imprinter 10 is not in operation, ink spreading roll 50 is moved out of engagement with ink transfer roll 42 by manual movement of cam levers 63, 64 about their pivots in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2. Therefore, the weight of ink spreading roll 50 is relieved from ink transfer roll 42 during periods of inoperativeness and indentations are thereby prevented 10 from being formed in the surface of the rubber ink transfer roll 42.

Following the printing thereof by printing cylinder 30, the labels pass between and beneath front guides I60 and 161 and are positively guided from printing cylinder 30 to prevent the labels from sticking thereto and smearing the printed copy or indicia or winding up on the printing cylinder 30 and interfering with its continued operation. By being disposed at opposite sides of the web of labels, front guides and 161 do not engage the printed copy on the labels and therefore will not smear the ink prior to the same becoming dried thereon.

From the front guides 160 and 161, the web of printed labels may be carried to any suitable take-up means (not shown) or to various other apparatus with which the label imprinter may be associated.

It will therefore be apparent that a novel label imprinter is provided wherein improved printing of the labels of all of the various types presently being manufactured is possible and wherein improved guiding and registration of the labels is provided and printing thereon in any desired position within a wide range, which range is equal to the range of feed of the label feeding means, is also possible without changing of the position of the printing type on the printing cylinder.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. An imprinting apparatus for successively printing suitable indicia on serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length, said apparatus comprising (a) an elongate base having a laterally extending groove therein at a medial point thereof,

(b) rotatable means carried by said base on one side of the groove therein for supporting a roll of the web of labels for unwinding therefrom,

(c) a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said base in spaced relation to said roll supporting means and on the opposite side of said groove and having printing indicia on the surface thereof for printing labels presented thereto,

((1) means operatively associated with said printing cylinder for applying a film of ink to the printing indicia thereon in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder,

(e) main feeding means carried by said base between said roll supporting means and said printing cylinder for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels, said main feeding means comprising a pair of cooperating feed cams having portions of their periphery protruding beyond the remainder thereof to define feed portions thereon, said feed cams being rotatably adjustable to vary the relative position of said feed portions thereof for varying the amount of the web of labels fed to said printing cylinder upon each revolution of said feed cams,

(f) adjustable auxiliary feeding means operatively associated with said main feeding means for positioning and registering successive labels in proper position to be fed by said main feeding means to said printing cylinder for printing thereof, said auxiliary feeding means being adjustable relative to said main feeding means within a range at least as great as the circumference of the feed portion of one of said feed cams for positioning the labels relative to said main feeding means so that the printed indicia may be disposed at any desired location on the labels,

(g) a pair of elongate back guides mounted on said base between said printing cylinder and said groove and extending for a major portion of the distance therebetween, said back guides being substantially C-shaped in cross-section with the ends of lower legs thereof adjacent said roll supporting means being flared downwardly and being disposed in said groove in said base for smoothly and uninterruptedly guiding the web of labels to said printing cylinder, and

(h) front guide means carried by said base on the said brake shoe portion out of engagement with opposite side of said printing cylinder from said said cylindrical brake member and in response to main feeding means for positively guiding the web a tension less than said predetermined tension of printed labels from said printing cylinder to for permitting said biasing means to move said thereby prevent the labels from sticking to said printbrake shoe portion into engagement with said ing cylinder and to thusly prevent smearing of the 15 cylindrical brake member.

printed indicia on the labels and winding of the 4. An imprinting apparatus for successively printing suitable indicia on serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length, said apparatus comprising labels around said printing cylinder. 2. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein said front guide means includes (1) an elongate bar mounted on said base for vertical adjustment relative thereto and extending laterally thereof,

(2) means biasing said bar downwardly toward said base, and

(3) a pair of guide blocks slidably mounted on said bar for adjustment relative to said base and relative to each other, said blocks normally being held in engagement with said base by said biasing means biasing said bar downwardly and thereby being held in adjusted position, said blocks having guide recesses in the lower inner surfaces thereof and being adapted to receive opposite longitudinal side edges of the web of labels therein.

3. An imprinting apparatus for successively printing (a) an elongate base having a substantially horizontally disposed, planar top,

(b) rotatable means carried by said base adjacent one end thereof for supporting a roll of the web of labels for unwinding,

(c) a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said base adjacent the opposite end thereof and having printing indicia on the surface thereof for printing labels presented thereto, 1

(d) means operatively associated with said printing cylinder for applying a film of ink to the printing indicia on said printing cylinder,

(e) main feeding means carried by said base between said printing cylinder and said roll supporting means for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels, (f) auxiliary feeding means carried by said base besuitable indicia on serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length, said apparatus comprising (a) an elongate base having a substantially horizontally disposed, planar top,

tween said main feeding means and said roll supporting means in operative association with said main (b) rotatable means carried by said base adjacent one feeding means for positioning and registering sucend thereof for supporting a roll of the web of labels cessive labels in proper position to be fed by said for unwinding, main feeding means to the printing cylinder,

(0) a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said base (g) brake means operatively associated with said roll adjacent the opposite end thereof and having printsupporting means and responsive to the tension in ing indicia on the surface thereof for printing labels the web of labels being unwound from the roll carpresented thereto,

(d) means operatively associated with said printing cylinder for applying a film of ink to the printing indicia on said printing cylinder,

ried by said roll supporting means for controlling the unwinding of the web from the roll, and

(h) anti back-up means carried by said base between said roll supporting means and said auxiliary feed- (e) main feeding means carried by said base between ing means for preventing the web of labels from said printing cylinder and said roll supporting means moving rearwardly toward said roll supporting means, for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said said anti back-up means including printing cylinder in timed relation with the rotation (1) a shaft oscillatably mounted on said base for thereof for successive printing of the labels carried oscillation about a generally horizontal aXis exby the web, tending transversely of said base,

(f) auxiliary feeding means carried by said base be- (2) an arm mounted on said shaft for movement tween said main feeding means and said roll suptherewith a fiXtfinding downwardly and forporting means in operative association with said main wardly therefrom at an acute angle to said base, feeding means for positioning and registering suc- (3) an anti back-up pad of a material having a cessive labels in proper position to be fed by said high coefiicient of friction mounted on the lower main feeding means to the printing cylinder, and (g) brake means operatively associated with said roll supporting means for controlling the unwinding of the web from the roll, said brake means comprising (1) a cylindrical brake member carried by and rotatable with said roll supporting means,

(2) a second brake member pivotally mounted adjacent said cylindrical brake member and including a curved brake shoe portion having a radius of curvature larger than said cylindrical brake member and being positioned relative to said cylindrical brake member so that only the outer portion of said curved brake shoe engages said cylindrical brake member,

end of said arm and cooperating with the top of said base for clamping the web of labels being unwound from the roll therebetween, the lower surface of said anti back-up pad curving rearwardly and upwardly from the forward edge to the rearward edge so that said main feeding means may move the web of labels forwardly beneath the anti back-up pad and said pad will be cammed forwardly and upwardly thereby, but will be cammed rearwardly and downwardly upon attempted rearward movement of the web of labels to thereby clamp the web against said base to prevent such attempted rearward move ment,

(4) means operatively connected to said shaft for biasing said shaft in an angular direction to bias said arm and back-up pad toward engagement with said base, and

(5) means for moving said shaft in the opposite direction against the action of said biasing means for raising said pad out of engagement with said base.

5. An imprinting apparatus for successively printing suitable indicia on serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length, said apparatus comprising and having portions of their periphery protruding beyond the remainder of the periphery thereof to define feed portions thereon, said feed portions co- (a) a rotatable printing cylinder having printing indicia on the surface thereof for printing labels presented operating upon each rotation of said feed cams to feed a predetermined length of the Web of labels thereto, to said printing cylinder for the printing of a label,

(b) means operatively associated with said printing said feed cams being rotatably adjustable relative to cylinder for applying a film of ink to the printing ineach other to adjust the relative positions of said dicia thereon in timed relation to the rotation of said feed portions thereof for thereby varying the amount printing cylinder, of the web of labels fed to said printing cylinder (c) a pair of cooperating generally circular feed cams upon each revolution of said feed cams to vary the rotatable in timed relation to the rotation of said distance between the printed indicia on successive printing cylinder and mounted adjacent and operalabels to thus accommodate labels of varying size, tively associated with said printing cylinder for interand I inittently feeding the web of labels thereto, said feed (d) adjustable auxiliary feeding means associated with CZIIEIS having pgrtitiilns of the (periphferyhthereof 1 rlJrosaid feeii beams for positioning and gegiteirilrjig suc tru ing eyont e remain er 0 t e perip ery cessive a e s in proper position to e e y sai thereof to define feed portions on said feed cams feed cams to the printing cylinder for printing which cooperate upon each rotation of said feed thereof, said auxiliary feeding means comprising cams to intermittently engage and feed a predeter- (1) at least one feeding finger engageable with mined length of the Web of lallnjells to said printing 3 successive labels in the web of liibels, h cylinder for the printing of a la e (2) means mounting said feeding nger on t e (d) first adjustment means mounting said pair of feed opposite side of said feed cams from said printcams for rotation relative to each other for adjusting ing cylinder for horizontal reciprocation toward the relative positions of said feed portions thereof and away from said feed cams for moving sucfor varying the amount of the Web of labels fed to 3 cessive labels into proper position for feeding Said printing cylinder upon each revolution of said to said printing cylinder by said feed cams, and feed cams to Vary the distance between the printed (3) adjustment means mounting said feeding indicia on successive labels to thus accommodate finger on said reciprocating means for adjustlabels of varying size, merit toward and away from said feed cams (e) a pair of feeding fingers engageable with succeswithin a range at least as great as the circumsive labels in the Web of labels, ference of the feed portion of one of said cams (f) a horizontally disposed elongate bar extending to vary the position of the labels in the web of rearwafrdlydfrfo-mdsaid feeding carflis on the opposite labels relativef t; slaig {eel cainfs da d heizice the side 0 sai ee cams rom sai printing cy in er registrationo t e a es eing e ysai cams and being mounted for reciprocation in a horizontal t aid printing cylinder to thereby position the plane toward and away from said feed cams, printed indicia at any desired location on the (g) means reciprocating said elongate bar in timed rel bels,

lation to the rotation of said feed cams and said printing cylinder, d References Cited by the Examiner (h) second adjustment means mounting said pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS feeding fingers on said elongate bar for reciprocation therewith and for adjustment longitudinally of said 1750357 3/1930 Ramdor g bar toward and away from said feed cams within a 2375451 5/1945 Waters 26-19 range equal to the length of the arc defined by said 2594679 4/1952 Pom 101 228 feed portion of one of said feed cams for varying 2671397 3/1954 Gorbatenko 1O1228 2 789 497 4/1957 Marshall 101228 X the position of the labels in the web of labels relative 5/1957 S 1m 101 228 to said feeding cams and hence the registration of 3'O13489 12/1961 1O1350 the labels being fed by said feed cams to said printing 3020841 2/1962 f s 101 350 cylinder to thereby position the printed indicia at 3'O94925 6/1963 g a 226-115 any desired location on the labels. 0

6. An imprinting apparatus for successively printing FOREIGN PATENTS suitable indicia on serially arranged labels and the like con 1,198,160 12 19 59 France nected together into a Web of indeterminate length, said apparatus comprising EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPRINTING APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVELY PRINTING SUITABLE INDICIA ON SERIALLY ARRANGED LABELS AND THE LIKE CONNECTED TOGETHER INTO A WEB OF INDETERMINATE LENGTH, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATE BASE HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING GROOVE THEREIN AT A MEDIAL POINT THEREOF, (B) ROTATABLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE ON ONE SIDE OF THE GROOVE THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF THE WEB OF LABELS FOR UNWINDING THEREFROM, (C) A ROTATABLE PRINTING CYLINDER CARRIER BY SAID BASE IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID ROLL SUPPORTING MEANS AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID GROOVE AND HAVING PRINTING INDICIA ON THE SURFACE THEREOF FROM PRINTING LABELS PRESENTED THERETO, (D) MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PRINTING CYLINDER FOR APPLYING A FILM OF INK TO THE PRINTING INDICIA THEREON IN TIMED RELATION TO THE ROTATION OF SAID PRINTING CYLINDER, (E) MAIN FEEDING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE BETWEEN SAID ROLLER SUPPORTING MEANS AND SAID PRINTING CYLINDER FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEEDING THE WEB OF LABELS TO SAID PRINTING CYLINDER IN TIMED RELATION TO THE ROTATION THEREOF FOR SUCCESSIVE PRINTING OF THE LABELS, SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF COOPERATING FEED CAMS HAVING PORTIONS OF THEIR PERIPHERY PROTRUDING BEYOND THE REMAINDER THEREOF TO DEFINE FEED PORTIONS THEREON, SAID FEED CAMS BEING ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE TO VARY THE RELATIVE THE AMOUNT OF THE WEB PORTIONS THEREOF FOR VARYING THE AMOUNT OF THE WEB OF LABELS FED TO SAID PRINTING CYLINDER UPON EACH REVOLUTION OF SAID FEED CAMS, (F) ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY FEEDING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS FOR POSITIONING AND REGISTERING SUCCESSIVE LABELS IN PROPER POSITION TO BE FED BY SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS TO SAID PRINTING CYLINDER FOR PRINTING THEREOF, SAID AUXILIARY FEEDING MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS WITHIN A RANGE AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE FEED PORTION OF ONE OF SAID FEED CAMS FOR POSITIONING THE LABELS RELATIVE TO SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS SO THAT THE PRINTED INDICIA MAY BE DISPOSED AT ANY DESIRED LOCATION ON THE LABELS, (G) A PAIR OF ELONGATE BACK GUIDES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY BASE BETWEEN SAID PRINTING CYLINDER AND SAID GROOVE AND EXTENDING FOR A MAJOR PORTION OF THE DISTANCE THEREBETWEEN, SAID BACK GUIDES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY C-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION WITH THE ENDS OF LOWER LEGS THEREOF ADJACENT SAID ROLL SUPPORTING MEANS BEING FLARED DOWNWARDLY AND BEING DISPOSED IN SAID GROOVE IN SAID BASE FOR SMOOTHLY AND UNINTERRUPTEDLY GUIDING THE WEB OF LABELS TO SAID PRINTING CYLINDER, AND (H) FRONT GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PRINTING CYLINDER FROM SAID MAIN FEEDING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY GUIDING THE WEB OF PRINTED LABELS FROM SAID PRINTING CYLINDER TO THEREBY PREVENT THE LABELS FROM STICKING TO SAID PRINTING CYLINDER AND T THUSLY PREVENT SMEARING OF SAID PRINTED INDICIA ON THE LABELS AND WINDING OF THE LABELS AROUND SAID PRINTING CYLINDER. 